Cody Gakpo paid an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota as Liverpool prepare to play their first match at Anfield since the Portuguese’s untimely death.
On July 3, Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died when their car crashed in the early hours in northern Spain.
The 28-year-old forward had recently married his childhood sweetheart at a ceremony in his native Portugal following a campaign culminating in trophy-winning successes for both club and country.
After the incident Liverpool announced that Jota’s No 20 would be immediately retired for all levels following consultation with his widow and his family.
Now, as Arne Slot’s side prepare to host Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season friendly Gakpo reflected on the heartbreak he and his team-mates have suffered.
‘Yeah, it’s been very difficult,’ the Dutchman told The Athletic.
Cody Gakpo paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota as Liverpool prepare for their first home game since his death
The 26-year-old credited the Liverpool squad for ‘coming together as a team’ in the wake of the tragedy
‘A lot of us were still on vacation when the situation happened. We came together as a team and as a club as soon as possible.
‘We tried to be there as much as we could at that moment for the family and together as a team to help wherever we could.
‘We still try to do that, and everyone is still busy a bit more behind the scenes than what is in the news, reaching out and helping as much as possible.’
Supporters and players alike have left tributes to Jota at a memorial set up outside Anfield.
Plans are in place for a permanent sculpture to be set up at the ground in Jota’s honour, while Liverpool will have the phrase ‘Forever 20’ emblazoned on each player’s kit for the duration of the coming campaign.
‘It is the least we can do,’ Gakpo added.
‘Obviously, he was an outstanding player, but he as a person was even more wonderful. He was good with everyone.
‘Everyone loved him, and that is also what you saw with how everyone reacted.
The phrase ‘Forever 20’ in reference to Jota’s squad number will be emblazoned on Liverpool kits for the coming campaign
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‘So yeah, it’s more that we want to remember who he was to us. Not as a player, because the player we can see on the highlights on YouTube, but more as the person he was.
‘He will be missed this season, but he will also be missed by everyone in this team and in this club, and by his family, for the rest of our lives. We will not forget him.’
After the visit of Bilbao on Monday evening, Liverpool will next be in action when they face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
The club will then kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth on August 15.
